While eating healthily and exercising regularly can ward of diseases, boost your happiness levels and ensure you live a longer life, it can also minimise the signs of ageing – especially if you put these non-invasive anti-ageing tricks to the test.
Prepare to shine from the inside, out.
Do face yoga
Step away from the elliptical; it’s time to spend 20 minutes toning and tightening your face.
Face yoga strengthens your facial muscles and, as Danielle Collins – “the world’s leading face yoga expert” – tells Marie Claire, increases blood circulation in your face, which allows “more oxygen and nourishment to reach the cells of the skin”.
It can be as simple giving yourself a stress-busting massage of your jawline, or trying Collins’ “V” technique – a yogic trick she says is an “alternative to eye surgery”.
First, you press your two middle fingers at the corner of each of your eyebrows, then push your index fingers to the outer edges of eyebrows. This should make a ‘V’ on each eye.
Then, look up to the ceiling, raise the lower eyelids upwards, before squinting.
Do this six times and finish this exercise by closing your eyes tightly for 10 seconds.
Eat salmon
This omega3-loaded fish has long been heralded as fighting the good fight against dry skin and wrinkles. Plus, salmon gives you the added bonus of potassium, vitamin B12 and selenium, which are all important for a healthy body.
Treat yourself to this deliciously nutritious and wrinkle-fighting food with a hot smoked salmon and sesame salad.
This hot smoked salmon and sesame salad is tasty and great for your skin.
Embrace acupuncture
This traditional form of Chinese medicine not only helps keep you balanced, but it can also work wonders on your skin.
It is believed the needles, which wake up your muscles, in this case, your face, can be used to treat dermatitis, acne, eczema and wrinkles, as well as strengthen general facial elasticity.
Limit white sugar
It’s tempting to add a teaspoon (or two) to tea or coffee, but research suggests that it is refined sugar that could be responsible for those fine lines on your forehead.
Processed sugar has been associated with dehydrating the skin, as well as eliminating the protein molecules, collagen and elastin it needs to ward off wrinkles, crinkles and creases.
Sometimes, it can be tricky to pare back on sugar, but, when you can, think about using stirring natural honey into your tea instead.
Laugh – and laugh some more
While you’d think being buckled over in a fit of laughter would crack a few crinkles across your skin, it’s actually the health benefits laughing can have on your body that’s been proven to keep you feeling (and looking) young and healthy.
Studies have shown that happy people who laugh a lot have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their system, can improve people’s ability to learn and 10-15 minutes of giggling each day is said to burn up to 168 kilojoules.
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If you plan on changing your diet, or would like to learn more about any of these wrinkle-fighting tips and tricks, contact your GP first.
